Education Books

I am a 6 grader at Our Lady of The Cape School on the Port -au-port Peninsula, NL.
Jesse Aarons has 4 sisters and he is the only boy. His 2 older sisters are very snobby and he has 2 younger sisters. Jesse does all the work and his older sisters have all the fun.
One day while he was running around the cow field he noticed a tomboy on the fence . They became best friends even though she won all the races at school and is the fastest .They made up an imaginary kingdom called Terabithia. One day Miss Edmunds his music teacher took him to Washington to look at a museum. When he got back home he was all the way into the kitchen before he realized that something was wrong. I would recommend this book to all ages just because someone is different doesn't mean that you can't be best friends.

I am a sixth grade Language teacher and have been using Bridge to Terabithia as a major part of my curriculum for many years. Each year that I read this book it gets better. Each class gets a little something different from the book. The way my students engross themselves with the characters Jesse and Leslie always seems to amaze me!

I am not the greatest book lover. But sometimes I enjoy reading books, and usually if I find a book I like I can't put it down. Well this book I couldn't put down. It shows how Jesse and Leslie overcame differences and became bestfriends. They have a secret place. I think this is kind of how kids are today. This book ends sad though whaen leslie dies so don't read this if you don't want to be sad. I give tis book 4 stars because it is not the best book I have ever read but it's right up there.

It was a rich entertaining book it kept me in Suspence the whole way through it, it is about 2 friends and the decide that they will build a magical country in the forest. The two of them are the rulers of this magical place.

I am not the greatest book lover. But sometimes I enjoy reading books, and usually if I find a book I like I can't put it down. Well this book I couldn't put down. It shows how Jesse and Leslie overcame differences and became bestfriends. They have a secret place. I think this is kind of how kids are today. This book ends sad though whaen leslie dies so don't read this if you don't want to be sad. I give tis book 4 stars because it is not the best book I have ever read but it's right up there.

I read this to my class. They loved it. It is filled with humor and elicited many laughs from my students. They also reread the book on their own which always makes a teacher smile. I will put this book on my list to read every year.

My 6th grade students loved this book and I must admit, I loved it, too! Fabulous!!

My first-grader begged us for this book after having read it repeatedly at school. It's still one of her very favorites. The poems are silly and witty and fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are funny as well. Books like this really help young children develop a love for words and for reading.

This is a great rhyming book for students. It seems really relateable for children because of the content that it is written about. I was able to relate to it by remembering my school days and I found the poems to be somewhat funny.

If you want to feel less alone in the real world of honest feelings, if you want to get in touch with true feelings, if you want to understand your emotions and explore your guilt and really dig deeper than sentiment--Carol Diggery Shields is the poet for you. Her voice is more original and her psychological depth deeper than most contemporary poets. She makes you feel less alone with your inner life. There is no sentimental frosting here. This is accessible and original poetry with a crafty use of language, a flowing free verse. I've spent my life reading poetry, and I find this poet thoroughly satisfying. Spend an evening or a morning or both with her LUNCH MONEY AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL and you will be moved and amazed at the original angles she takes on truth and human feelings and relationships. This is a poet of psychological, philosphical realization--a thinker who really probes the inner life with grace of expression.

If you want to understand how the world around you is functioning, you only need to read this book. It will provide you foundation/concepts which are universal i.e. apply to everything.

This is a wonderful book, essential in the complex world we live in. It explains how to apply insight from one of the newest branches of science, complexity, to every day problems. Very illuminating.

Nevertheless, its final part on ethnic violence, terrorism and global conflicts is nothing but disappointing. Bar-Yam fails to look at one of the world's most complex and urgent problems with the same cold intelligence he applies to engineering design. Maybe still under the 9/11 trauma, he seems to see it as a problem of Muslims against Christians and only suggests that maybe we should maintain frontiers between "them" and "us". The solution has to be transparency and replicating the best traits of every culture. For instance, community values from Islam, for instance, respect to human rights from Western culture. But, if in a "war against terrorism" we agree to forget about human rights, what is left?

"Making Things Work" provides a great background into the study of complex systems (something that I knew very little about beforehand) and then continues on to apply those concepts and models to real world examples. The examples are easy to follow and all make perfect sense. This book certainly provides many useful problem-solving lifestyle changes

In "Making Things Work" Yaneer provides the reader with an excellent, non-technical discussion of some of the more important concepts in Complexity science. Like other successful popularizers of science such as Carl Sagan, Yaneer has a gift for explaining difficult subjects in a way that everyone can understand. He then shows how these concepts can (and should) be used to address real-world problems such as the health-care crisis and education. It should be required reading for policy-makers and business leaders.
For a more technical treatment, I'd recommend Yaneer's earlier book or better yet, take a course at NECSI.

This book is bound to please anyone who wants to grapple with the complexity of today's world and organizations, and is interested in the truly big picture and issues.

Part I explains concepts central to complex systems, such as: parts, wholes and relationships; patterns; networks and collective memory; possibilities; and evolution. The second and major part of the book focuses on how we can apply complex systems ideas to help solve such major real-world challenges as: military warfare and conflict; health care (the system and errors); learning and the educational system; international development; enlightened evolutionary engineering; and global control, ethnic violence and terrorism. The first hurdle is to comprehend these problems using our knowledge of complex systems and then begin to address them using a complex systems framework.

The book is intellectually refreshing and bold. Its content is expansive, enlightening, and mind-stimulating.

This book helped me greatly in understanding AP Calculus BC in 12th grade. For example, once my calculus teacher taught a concept which I completely failed to understand. I read the corresponding section in this book the night before the quiz and scored a high A--the highest in the class.

I bought this book to study for the AP Calculus AB exam and possibly teach myself some of the BC topics. I think the book overall does a good job and is well intended, but it has various problems. First of all, it is strewn with errors. I am referring to the 3rd edition when I write about these. Some examples are:

- on page 22, there is a graph labelled as a ln graph (y=lnx), but it actually shows a square root graph (y=x^(1/2)0.

- on page 55 in Exmaple 17 it says coordinates are A (3, pi/2), B (-3pi/4,1), C (5pi/6, -2), flipping all the x- and y- coordinates with each other. (It should be A (pi/2, 3), B (1, -3pi/4) and C (-2, 5pi/6).

- on page 63 it says "AB [with arrow over it to indicate vecctor] = 7 i [i in bold] + 3j [j in bold] = 7 i [i in bold] + 3j [j in bold]". It should say "AB [with arrow over it to indicate vecctor] = <7,3> = 7 i [i in bold] + 3j [j in bold]".

- on page 83, it says "lim x -> -2 r(x) = lim x -> -2 (1/ (x-2)) = 1/ (-2 - 20) = -1/4". It should say "lim x -> -2 r(x) = lim x -> -2 (1/ (x-2)) = 1/ (-2 - 2) = -1/4"

- on page 137 we are trying to fine h'(e), but first you of course find the general formula for h'(x) and then plug in e. But whoever typed it must have thought they were all supposed to say "h'(x)". First, at the top of the page it reads "Example 14: Find h'(x) if h(x) = [equation]", and it should read "Example 14: Find h'(x) if h(x) = [equation]" since the problem ends up solving for h'(e). Then a few lines down it reads "Now find h'(e), and remember that lne=1. That will remove some of the grime. h'(x) = arc cot e [etc, rest of equation with es in it]". Again. clearly that is an equation for h'(e), not for h'(x).

- on the bottom of page 173 on example 9 of chapter 5, the tangent line equation should read "...=17.696(x-(pi/4)), but it makes some error where pi/4 is (I whited out the original and wrote that over it so I don't remember what the error originally was.)

- On page 237 on the Chapter 6 practice problem #8 the radius should be 36 feet, not whatever was written in.

And after chapter 6 it gets suddenly better. Maybe they hired a different typre for the rest of the book or something. Or maybe I just never got as far as the rest of the book/ =P

Anyway, the long and the short of all that is that if you are going to be confused by lots of typos. maybe this book isn't for you. For me, I had enough familiarity with the topics to begin with that I figured out what they meant (though it did waste a bit of my time.) However, if you don't have a good background prior to this book, things like this might confuse you (although you do have an enumeration of all the errors (well, through chapter 6 at least) right here, assuming this still coordinates with the edition of the book they're selling now. (Or maybe, of course, they've corrected these errors by now!))

On the other hand, I think it provides pretty good review in general. In the start in Chapter 2 which is Calculus Prerequiaiates (relations, functions, trig) it gives lists of all the things to memorize, in only a few places, so you have them all there to study. In addition, there is aformula page in the start of the book with the basic formulas, besides these ones which are like the pre-calc ones (trig identities, sum and diff formulas, etc).

Also, the writer attempts to write with humor and flair, to avoid the typical math-book type book. I'm not sure if this is a plus or a minus, though. His jokes are really lame, but I suppose they still do lighten up the math of it.

There are hands-on activities that attempt to get the student to figure out for themselve (sorry, him or herself) math rules by going through steps of mini-questions and then it asks you what is the relation between such-and-such or the general formula for such-and-such. I think some of these are pretty good.

And in general I think things are explained well.

Overall, I think this is a pretty good book, but there are a ton of errors. I bought it based upon the previous reviews that said it was THE calc book to buy to review for the AP exams. (BTW, I took calc, AB; I don't know how this book is for BC, though I think it would be ok, but I have heard BC is a ton harder, so I don't know. It has each section separate and the ones that are for BC only are labelled "BC Only", that's how it organizes that.) If it is true that this book is really so much better than all the otherrs, I'd say buy it in spite of the typos unless you think that would really throw you off. However, I haven't heard anything bad about the other books from people I know.... I've heard that Barron's sucks in general and Princeton Review is good, but I have no idea really. I can't imagine anything being so much better about this book than others, unless the others really suck, but I don't know. Anyway, if this book is really better I'd say go for it but otherwise it has lots of annoying errors. I give it a 3 out of 5 assuming it really is a better book in general, a 2 out of 5 if not.

Information on the book:

It has 11 chapters in 2 parts, the first being pre-calc and differentiation, the second being integration. the third part of the book is practice exams, one in AB and one in BC. I honestly never got that far and haven't looked at the practice exams; I just practiced with old exams from the collegeboard website.

Part 1
- Ch. 1: Intro to the AP Calc test, etc
- Ch 2: "Calculus Prerequiaiates" - functions, trig stuff
- Ch 3: "Limits and Continuity"
- Ch 4: "Differnetiation"
- Ch 5: "Advanced Topics in Differentiation"
- Ch 6: "Applications of the Derivative"
- Ch 7: "Integration"
- Ch 8: "Advanced Methods of Integration" (u substitution, and then mostly BC stuff, like integration by parts, improper fractions, uv substitution)
- Ch 9: "Applications of Differentiation"
- Ch 10: "Differential Equations"
- Ch 11: "Sequences and Series (BC Topic only)"

This book is now available under a different title, "Peterson's AP Calculus AB and BC." The content is almost exactly the same--I think the "Master" series from ARCO was discontinued.

I have been teaching AP Calculus for more years than I am willing to admit. Whenever I have a student who says, "I need more practice problems" or "I'm just not getting this" or "Is there ANYthing you can do to help me?" I ALWAYS recommend this book.

Some of my students just use it at the end of the year to review, but others use it during the year as a supplemental text.

Yes, even the best of teachers sometimes can't deliver the message in a way that EVERY student understands. That's why Mike Kelley's book is so helpful.

Buy it. Your brain will thank you.

I wasn't the best at Calc BC in my class, but I got this book and studied like crazy. I read this entire book from cover to cover and took notes. However, I didn't do any of the tests in the back because my teacher had his own for me to do. I tried most of the problems and such. I earned a 5 on the BC test for all my efforts though I was close to a C+ average in the class.

The author provides some challanging and some easy problems. Best of all, this guy has a sense of humor which makes dry math seem much better. This is the best book to own.

Keep in mind I did have a good teacher, this book just gave me another way of looking at everything. In most cases this book is what got me to see how to do things. It also taught me some things my teacher didn't that saved me time and got me the right answer. Taken alongside what you learn in class, this is sure to help anyone (though it still didn't get series straight for me, but it did help me feel comfortable with series problems).

This book does have a few inaccuracies, but you're sure to spot them. Or you could just read the review posted by the other guy on this site for a list of them all and corrections.

I encourage you to get this book if you are looking for the best guide (though slightly out of date).

I would like to thank the author for the wonderful book " MBA Admissions
Strategy " I'm accepted by University of Chicago the last round and
invited by Said Business School of Oxford for an interview. I only
applied 3 schools and all the 3rd round.

I learned the most from the book and formed a strategy and plan. The
book is insightful and well written.

Business coach and Director of the MBA Admissions Studio (www.mbastudio.net) A.V. Gordon presents MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building To Essay Writing, a step-by-step guide to creating a successful MBA application with particular emphasis on essay writing. Chapters cover how to present one's personal profile in an optimum light, what MBA admissions personnel are looking for in applicants, principles of better writing and much more. "Expect your readers to constantly be asking the pointed question, 'So what?' If you give them a fact, a story, an observation or any other piece of information, they will want to know: Why is this relevant? Why am I reading this about you? What understanding about you do I get form it? What am I learning about your growth, transition, development, experience or insight? Why does this advance your candidacy? It is your job to answer these 'so what's' by showing how each piece of your essay connects to you and your argument for an admissions ticket, and framing this, at least in part, in human resources and organizational behaviour terms." Highly recommended.

Avi's book distills the admissions process in a clear and concise fashion. The book got me on track to think about whom I was and what I had to offer. Avi does a great job of helping you connect the dots among your dreams, achievements, and personality.

Book has given me a good framework to piece the puzzle together from the personal front to the school that will fit my needs. It has empowered me to make it happen.

This is not my first try at knocking on the doors of the top MBA programs. Fortunately I found this wonderful book before I started my campaign this year. The book helped me to identify several mistakes that I've made in my previous application, and of course much more things that I can improve, especially in the essay writing part. Amazingly, the insights to the application process that the author shared in this books matches perfectly with the feedback that I got from the schools that I applied before. On top of that, the book also gives out hands-on instructions to address each aspect with a lot of details. Also it teaches so many smart techniques on how to positioning and marketing yourself. To me, it is an extremely practical guide to help me through the process.

MUST HAVE BOOK. By far the best book on the subject.

Even if you have already purchased Richard Montauk book or any other MBA consulting book, I still advise that you buy and read this book.

If you have not purchased any book yet, I strongly recommend you to start with this book.

If you are targeting top 15 MBA programs, reading this book will be the best thing you could do to improve your chances.

Pros -
1) Very structured approach. It begins with helping you profile yourself.
2) No nonsense material. Very brief, succinct and to the point.
3) It leaves the obvious clutter out. Author does not repeat himself. I think this is the biggest plus of this book. There are many top sellers (no names), which are too thick at the expense of being repetitive.
3) Comprehensive.
4) Refined. Polished.

Cons -
1) Addition of some sample essays would be a very useful.
2) Schools specific research and advise will be useful too. I notice that most of the MBA admissions book in the market lack this type of material.
3) Part time program specific advise.

The med schl survival guide, its the BEST THING ever!! I got it from a friend like 3 yrs ago. Even my friend in med schl read it several times when he was starting. I've read and REREAD IT like 6x, and i keep going back, its even on my bed right now! I even find myself implementing some stuff there, she says whenever ur going thru any big issue, realize "This too shall pass" I quote" In med schl, as in life, little things can become big" She uses example of breaking up with 1st love, and how it might have seemed like a disaster to u at 1st but it soon passed. She even applies it to 3rd yr, dealing with senior resident from hell, and how guess what next yr u might not even remember his name, so take it in stride!!
Focus on the big picture!!

I carry this book around, its usually in my book bag, and has been past 3yrs, I start med schl in a few days and I go back to it more so now more than ever!!!
She talks about everything from motivation, to dealing with classmates, patients, relationships, gossip, missing classes, dealin with death, to not expecting others to understand, to realizing you made this choice...everything!

This book is a good collection of primarily reminders: stuff you should already know but may forget in the rush to study. It's very lightweight in size and content, broken up into 101 "lessons" that are usually just a couple paragraphs.

So if you need something to read in the bathroom, I would definitely recommend this book while you struggle through Med School.

I am currently a first-year medical student in Texas. Before I started my medical school this August, I was searching for some "survival books." The reason I did that was before I went to college, I got a bunch of books with similar titles such as "The Survival Book for College", "College Freshman Pocket Guide." They proved to be very helpful, so I just wanted to find such a book for medical school.

It turned out that there aren't many options. That's why I bought this one, sadly. My first reaction after I started reading it was: Disappointed. It wasn't what I was looking for. I was looking for something like "this is how you take notes," "this is how you ace the anatomy class," or "this is how to make yourself not afraid of cadavers." This book is COMPLETELY not about this.

But, surprisingly enough, I LIKE this book. Make that "I LOVE it." What's "weirder" is that the more I read the book, the more I love it. I'm not exaggerating. The author didn't pay me so I don't need to lie. This is truly a book of wisdom. I really appreicate the author's wisdom, not in medicine, but in being a decent person and a decent doctor.

This book doesn't give you any specific instructions or tips to shine in medical school. It gives you the "directions." It shows you "how to think" instead of "what to think." You must read it to find out.

At last, I highly highly recommend this book for pre-med students. Why? Because I think it will help a lot for writing your personal statement! I must tell you that I was sick of the personal statement, and by the end of my AMCAS process I virtually depleted all my mental resources. This book would have filled my brain up, but I didn't know it existed at that time.

I received this book before starting my first year of med school, and I have turned to it again and again. It has helped me to maintain a positive outlook and to face new challenges. I highly recommend "The Med School Survival Guide" for all medical students!

This book is a very quick read, but the information it has to offer spans everything from learning how to succeed on the wards to taking care of oneself, physically, spiritually and emotionally. It contains 101 survival tips, backed up with vivid and entertaining personal examples. Jennifer Danek helps assuage the fears that medical students may have upon entering their chosen careers. Her carpe diem attitidue and incredible humanism permeate the book and help future and current physicians learn how to approach their careers and lives with optimism in the face of death, empathy in the face of despair, and courage in the face of challenge.

My big issue with The Motivation Breakthrough is that its subtitle, "6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child," makes it appear as if this book is for: (1) parents of kids with learning issues, or (2) education professionals. This book is a must read for ALL parents!

The majority of the book discusses six ways (they're all "P" words) that kids can be motivated. Want a list of ways to organize a good Project? What are characteristics of a good teacher/student (People) relationship? What are the pitfalls of Praise and how can it be given effectively? Why are most Prize systems destined to fail but how can they become a help rather than a hindrance to learning? How can you cultivate leadership skills in a child motivated by Prestige or Power?

...and those are just the high-level points. What might teachers learn from sports coaches? How can you better say "I'm proud of you?" Why is Pokemon so fascinating to children? Why should an allowance be unrelated to doing chores? What are unique ways to show affection? I could go on and on. This book provides an astonishing amount of insight and real-life tips for any parent or teacher.

Lavoie writes clearly and his points are well-organized. This is not just a book to read, but to buy; you'll want to flag, highlight, take notes in it, and refer to it often.

Richard Lavoie's book and DVD by the same name would best be used as a professional development piece for any school's faculty when studying how best to develop lessons with students' interest in mind.

Commandment #1 of any civilized society is this: Let people be different. Motivation is the key to learning. Children need positive motivation from a caring teacher and loving parents. It is a discouraging fact that many young and old black kids are shuffled out the door each morning to spend their days, their time and energies on the playground or asphalt jungle playing basketball aggressively with neighborhood bullies. As a result, a lot of these unfortunate little people are physically abused and emotionally stunted. There is no praise or any prestige (what's that) to motivate those who life this way; no book-learning, music, at or supervision. They are on their own, growing up in the streets. There is no a dult around to encourage these children to strive to reach their potential.

Six C's of a motivating classroom: Creativity, Community, Clarity, Conferencing, and Control. Eight motivators: Gregariousness: the need to belong; Autonomy: need for independence; Status: need to be important; Inquisitiveness: need to know; Aggression: need to assert; Power: need for control; Recognition: need for acknowledge; and Affiliation: need to associate and belong. Those with learning disabilities need special training and extra time and patience to overcome their self-imposed segregation, like the autistic students who need love and understanding as much as book knowledge.

Written by an experienced educator who knows of what he says. His expertise is needed in every crack and cranny of this continent, not just Boston.

My son (now 15) has what we believe to be is a variation of nonverbal learning disability and I've read countless books over the years. After reading Rick's first book, I attended a workshop that he provided in our area and found him to be an exceptional speaker as well as writer. I also just read this latest book and it's one of the best I've read to date from any clinician, educator, etc. In my opinion, everyone should read this. It applies not only to children with "issues" but to everyone out there. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or manager/employer, it provides tremendous insight into how to truly reach people and also debunks the myth of laziness/lack of motivation. Rick Lavoie is a gift, especially to parents and teachers.

There is always a child whose behaviour/reactions are the cause for extra concern;not only from the educator's viewpoint but also from parent's and even that child's own. This book helps us to understand why things might be going wrong in a child's life and proposes solutions that really work.It has enabled a child I work with to gain a grip on his behaviour through facilitating a greater understanding of the way his mind ticks amongst the adults involved in his life.It could help you crack that case that is making you feel like you just don't know enough...seeing the tremendous change in this particular child's life has done it for me!

I brought this book for my 4 year old granddaughter, and she loves it. The pictures that appear in the maze make it easy to teach the concept of mazes. For example, the first maze has a hedge bordering all sections of the maze. My granddaughter understood following a path when I told her "you can't jump over or go through the hedge". She had so much fun that she just about finished the book in one sitting.

Purchased for my niece and she loves these mazes. Each page is double sided with an easy maze on the front and a harder maze on the back. She finds the harder maze a little difficult so I place numbered clues throughout the maze for her to follow.

She prefers working with the the pages out of the book, which you can do if you work on it a little. Instead of cutting, you can pull the front cover all the way back until the seam is exposed, and remove the pages one by one without ripping any pages.

My son loves these mazes. I've had great luck with all of the Kumon books. This one is really great for teaching pencil skills. It holds my son's interest and the book is structured to give a high success rate - staring with simpler mazes and progressing. I'm a teacher and I'm very impresed with this and all of the other Kumon books I've tried.

This book is pegged for children ages 3 - 5, and that seems about right. My three year old son had a blast working these delightful (and sometimes challenging) mazes. There are 80 mazes in the book, and there is a certificate of achievement at the back of the book.

Highly recommended.

My 3-year old grand daughter loves doing these mazes. It's geared for 3 - 5 year olds and she wants to try all of them. She can do about half but never gets bored.

My son just turned 5 and starts kindergarten in a few months. He loves this book and asks to read it over and over. It's a little long for us to get throught the whole book some nights before bedtime, but it's broken out into 1-2 page chapters and he doesn't seem to mind stopping mid-way. The chapters are educational and fun. I bought a few other kindergarten books with good reviews on Amazon and this has been his favorite. Would be good for both girls and boys.

Emily, Roger and their classmates are having a fine kindergarten year: Miss Cribbage always has fun activities for them to do, and learning adventures they can take home to their families. The kindergarten experience comes alive for the entire family and readers receive a host of fun animal learners in the warm My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells

This is an excellent book that takes a charming cast of characters and their creative, enthusiastic teacher through their first school year. Along the way they engage in a wide variety of stimulating activities, experience the change of seasons, and learn more about their local community--in this case, Cranberry Island, Maine. (Which does exist--we looked it up online.)

The students learn about some basic ideas like numbers and letters. But they also apply geography to mapping their school and neighborhood, study their environment by collecting seeds and dividing items into animal, vegetable or mineral categories. They even learn about civics by observing a local referendum on whether a chain restaurant should open on the island. As mentioned, they also take an active role in their community through volunteer work and projects.

The overriding message is that the potential for learning and teaching young children is present in many different circumstances given their innate curiosity. It is also pointed out in several situations that not all children will enjoy or master every activity, and in each case this challenge is accomodated with kindness.

The writing style is lovely, full of good cheer and wry observations about different personalities and people. The pictures are charming. My daughter enjoyed this book at six and my son loves it just as much at four. For me it is a reminder of how amazing the world can be through the eyes of a child absorbing and experiencing it for the first time. It also encourages parents to be patient with their children through the examples it portrays.

I love almost everything Rosemary Wells has ever written, and this book is no exception! It follows Emily (a bunny) and her classmates through kindergarten, both in school and outside. While they learn, your child can learn, but not in a forced, worksheet type way---rather, just by observing what the talented Ms. Cribbage teaches her students. I love it that the kids are not all eager learners, and in fact one boy mainly likes cars and little else---that's reality! The page with the food ABCs alone is both the price of admission!

If your child have enjoyed Emily's First 100 Days of School, they will be happy to find the same characters here, but might be a bit confused, as I was, that although both books seem to cover a kindergarten year in the same bunny's life, they are not really the same story----in The First 100 Days, Diane Duck moves mid-year, and here she doesn't. This one is set on an island in Maine, which delighted me, as the map shows it to be just off the peninsula I grew up on! However, First 100 is set a totally different place, someplace that seemed to me on reading it like an affluent suburb near a city. Other subtle difference occur, but I can't say this really took away from my enjoyment of the book at all---it was just a curiousity, someone for the adults reading both to think about! An island in Maine really makes more sense, as it explains the extra small class size---that is just all the kids that age the island has to offer.

All in all, a WONDERFUL book!

This is a long book, to be enjoyed over serval days. It captures the exuberance, curiosity, and sensitive feelings of young children. This delightful book follows a kindergarten class of animals from the first day of school to the end of the year, as they collect weeds and seeds, play instruments, learn about maps, and do lots of other fun activities. It compassionately conveys the feelings of a little bunny who temporarily becomes overwhelmed and forgets every single number because there are too many, and another who would rather draw a picture of "blue greass" than dance to it. I adore the teacher, Miss Cribbage, a fluffy guinea pig, who tells her students, "If anybody's feet are wet, or they didn't sleep well, or they are in a bad mood, music will make it all better." These are words to live by!

Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD
author of 'What About Me? Twelve Ways to Get Your Parents' Attention Without Hitting Your Sister'

No Talking by Andrew Clements is a great book set in fifth grade where the students have challenged each other to a contest...boys versus girls. The rules of the contest are simple but can be very hard to follow. Students may talk at school only when an adult asks them a question, but then they can only answer using three words at a time. Students can not speak at home, on the playground, or in the lunchroom. The students keep track of their words and use the honor system to report them. When the principal demands that the contest must end, the students join together to silently face a new opponent in the competition. Clements does an excellent job of showing the voice of these students through their dialogues with one another. Their personalities shine through the pages.

Teachers will love the ideas and discussions that stem from this book. The book sparks conversations about peaceful ways to settle arguments like Mahatma Gandhi did in India. The teachers in the book complete many activities that allow students to follow the contest rules and still learn. One my favorites includes creating a story as a whole class where all students add to the story using only three words at a time. Students will love completing lessons that follow these from the book. It may even inspire a contest.

"No Talking" is a realistic and entertaining book that describes a competition between the boys and girls at Laketon Elementary. Each team tries to go untill the end of the week without talking. Commotion occurs as a result of the silence. The teachers and the principle are getting annoyed by the constant silence to they decide to take action on the nonsense. Does the teachers stop the competition or do the children pull them into the fun? Read to find out!

Working in a public school, I am around children every day. Here are two facts that I feel I can state from experience:

1. Kids like to talk

2. There is nothing that gets the youngsters going like boys vs. girls competition

In No Talking, Andrew Clements manages to merge both of these eternal truisms.

At Laketon Elementary, the 5th grade class has a reputation for embracing the spoken word - so much so that they earned the nickname "The Unshushables" from teachers. On top of all this noisiness, the boys can't stand the girls and the girls aren't all that keen on the boys.

One day Dave Packer attempts something that surely has never been done by anyone in his fifth grade class - to make it through the school day without saying a word. He fails, but his experiment leads to a challenge between the boys and the girls: Two days of school. Whichever group talks the least wins.

This book has all kinds of classroom implications, and the rivalry between boys and girls will immediately draw kids in. No Talking is an entertaining story and a quality fiction selection

No Talking is a good book about girls versus boys war with no talking. The war started when a boy did his report on India and he heard about this man who tried not talking to clear his head. This book has a good moral and teaches kids a good lesson. I would say third - 5th grade should read this.

This book, "No Talking", was pretty good, though when you read the breif explanation of the plot on the back of the book, it sounds better than it really is. It is also a short book, and I finished it in about 30 minutes despite its catagory: "chapter book". I thought it had a fairly nice plot, and it did teach a lot, but it also wasn't as funny or as great as it sounded. As I said, it was short with an alright plot.

I loved the humor it did have, though, and I thought the ending was interesting and heart-warming. You also had to love some parts with the only three-word answers the kids gave the teachers' answers. However, I thought the beginning was written in a confusing way. Also, there were so many characters, I woke up the morning after I finished the book and couldn't even remember half the names.

FOR PARENTS: (Scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest/worse)
bad language - 0 there was no bad language
sexual content - 1
1. one example of sexual content was that a girl kissed a guy on the cheek
violence - 0 there was no violence
adult content - 2
1. one example of adult content was that the main character, Dave is yelled at by the principal and he yells back, which shows rebellion.
2. another example of adult content was that the book is based on what Dave read in a book on India about the well-known Muslim, Gandhi, and Dave seems to think Gandhi is very wise in not talking, which may come off offensive or confusing.

Overall this was an okay book.